To me, Pao's case really wasn't about its specific outcome; it was about shining a spotlight on issues of gender discrimination and sexism that we all know exist. In one article that compares the Ellen Pao v. Kleiner Perkins trial to the Clarence Thomas v. Anita Hill one, Joan Williams, distinguished professor of law at the University of California Hastings College of Law, suggested "The Pao case has been a month-long gender bias training to the world, and in a very high profile context." I agree; therein lies its value to the world. Now, where do we go from here?

It's my hope that Pao's trial experience results not in more legal action but, rather, in more open-mindedness to gender issues accompanied by a desire to deal with these issues constructively. Senior management, especially, needs to be on the lookout for how women on their staff are treated and must be proactive in handling issues, no matter how seemingly small. As well, change can start at the beginning, with hiring. Quoted in this arstechnica article, multi-time founder Fran Maier says, "I'm not sure any company is going to think about diversity first, but if they become more enlightened, they'll think about reaching out to a larger network, maybe understanding that a woman's point of view could make a difference, or that a more diverse staff makes better decisions." The real "win" of the Pao case - since there really were no winners in that lawsuit - will be when businesses do exactly as Maier suggests: when they learn and grow from valuing a gender-diverse staff. I have long been a proponent of businesses making gender-neutral policies, and I've shared tips for doing that which I've implemented in my own companies. Personally, I'm not in favor of quotas as a solution to diversifying a workplace; equality is not a numbers game. Equality is more about treatment and fairness of access than it is about numbers. My hope is that the outcome of Pao's case for every company is a look inward at its diversity values, measures, and goals.

We must celebrate our successes alongside those lessons, too. I am proud of my company, RingCentral, for appointing a woman, Michelle McKenna Doyle, CIO of the NFL, to our board. There are many ways to take steps like these that trend in a positive direction for company diversity. Legal action alone will never propel women to positions of equality. But in some cases, like Pao's, a lawsuit might force the fast-tracking of a conversation that has long needed to happen. Fortune magazine summed it up well: "The suit will likely have a lasting impact on society, and a positive one for the cause of equal treatment in the workplace." I hope that is, indeed, the case.

Now, it's your turn: have the issues raised around the Ellen Pao v. Kleiner Perkins trial impacted the way you run your business? I'd like to hear from you in the comments below.